Closure member



G. H. MORRIS CLOSURE MEMBER Feb. 4, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 5, 1962 INVENTOR. G0/?6[ H- MORRIS Feb. 4, 1964 G. H. MORRIS 3,120,035

CLOSURE MEMBER Filed Feb. 5, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR. 25 azofiei H. MORE/5 IZMMM%6/ A TORNEYS United States Patent Ofiice 3,120,035 Patented Feb. 4, 1964 3,129,035 (IMEURE MEMBER George H. Morris, 2962 N. 35th, Kansas City, Karts. Filed Feb. 5, i962, Ser. No. 171,014 3 tllaims. (Cl. 2il--62) This invention relates to closure devices, and more particularly to a slatted blind device for installation over a window opening to control the entrance of light and air therethrough.

Various slatted blind devices have been devised in the past; however, such devices generally have been complex structures which were expensive to produce and usually presented tedious installation and maintenance problems. In particular, such prior art devices were difficult to clean because the individual slats were pennanently or semipermanently installed wtih respect to the frame members supporting same.

The principal objects of the present invention are: to provide a novel mounting structure for individual window blind slats which permits said slats to be securely retained in a supporting frame but when desired, easily removable therefrom; to provide such a device having studs rotatably mounted in bores on the supporting frame, said bores having discs with opposed faces and slots extending into said faces for receiving the slats; to provide such a construction wherein selected studs are springurged axially to maintain the engagement of the respective slats between the opposing faces of the discs; to provide such a supporting stud which is adapted to be resiliently axially displaced to disengage an individual slat for removal for cleaning or maintenance; to provide such a window blind structure having slats with a longitudinally extending bend therein forming connected center sections extending at an angle to each other for increasing the torsional strength; to provide such a slat configuration which is of thin sheet metal and yet exhibits sufficient strength for torsional positioning from one end thereof without substantial distortion; to provide such a window blind assembly wherein the slats are maintained in a desired relationship with respect to each other without permanent connecting members on the ends thereof; and to provide such a louver structure which is simple and inexpensive in construction and highly satisfactory for its intended use.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparentfrom the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth by way of illustration and example certain embodiments of this invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the window blind structure mounted on a window frame and showing certain slats in an opened position and certain slats in a closed position.

PEG. 2 is a cross-sectional view on a slightly enlarged scale taken on the line 2-2, FIG. 1, particularly showing the cross-sectional configuration of the slats.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on the line 33, FIG. 2, showing details of the slat mounting frame structure.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view on an enlarged scale showing details of the slat receiving mounting members.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale showing a corner connection between frame members.

Referring to the drawings in more detail:

The reference numeral 1 generally indicates a window blind structure embodying this invention. The structure 1 includes an upper and a lower spaced horizontal mutually parallel elongated frame member respectively designated 2 and 3 and a pair of laterally spaced vertical elongated parallel side frame members 4 and 5. The frame members 2, 3, 4 and 5 are connected at opposite ends thereof, in the illustrated example by screws 5' (FIG. 5) forming a frame structure 6 having a rectangular opening '7 therethrough. The frame structure 6 is illustrated mounted in front of a Window casing 8 whereby the slats described hereinafter, are positioned to control the light and/or air flow passing therepast. In the illustrated example, a frame structure 9 identical to the frame structure 6 is mounted beneath and abutting the frame structure 6 whereby greater light and air flow control is achieved by permitting upper and lower sets of slats to be independently operated.

The upper frame structure 6 and the lower frame structure 9 are maintained closely spaced to the window casing 8 by means of suitable brackets iii secured by screws ill to the window casing framing structure 12. Suitable screws 13 extend through respective side frame members 4 and S and into the brackets to maintain the frame structures 6 and 9 in fixed relation with respect to the brackets 10. In the illustrated example, the lower frame member of the lower frame structure 9 rests on the window sill 14; however, if desired, the entire assembly can be maintained out of contact with the sill 14 by upwardly repositioning the brackets Ill.

The lower frame member 3 has a plurality of lower bores 15 spaced therealong and opening upwardly toward the upper frame member 2. A lower cylindrical studld is rotatably mounted in each of the lower bores 15 and has a lower bearing disc 17 integral therewith and greater in diameter than the respective lower bores 15 to axially support the studs 16 and prevent same from falling therethrough. The lower bearing discs 17 have a lower face 13 slidably contacting the lower frame member 3 and an upper face 19 facing the upper frame member 2.

Each upper face 19 has a pair of upwardly opening slots 2d and 21 extending thereinto and also forming a V, that is extending at an angle to each other and intersecting adjacent the center 22 of the upper face 19. A control rod 23 has an inner end 24- secured to, and an outer end 25 extending laterally from, each of the lower discs 17. The rods 23 are suitably curved whereby the outer ends 25 thereof extend beneath the upper edge level of the lower frame member 3 so as not to obstruct the insertion of slats described hereinafter. Bars 26 are re spectively pivotally secured to a plurality of the rod outer ends 25, in the illustrated example, each bar 26 is pivotally secured to three of the outer ends 25. The rods 23 extending between a bar 26 and the respective rotatably mounted discs 17 are always maintained generally in a parallel relation whereby a plurality of the discs 17 are rotatable in unison in response to the lateral shifting of a selected bar 216. A suitable upwardly extending end portion 27 is formed integrally on each bar 26 to provide a convenient handle for grasping said bar to rotate the discs 17.

A plurality of upper bores 28 are spaced along the upper frame member 2 and open toward the lower frame member 3 and are respectively aligned with the lower bores 15. An upper cylindrical stud 2% is rotatably and axially slidably mounted in each of the upper bores 28. An upper bearing disc 36 is integral with each of the upper studs 29 and greater in diameter than said upper bores 28. The upper bearing discs 3G have respective lower faces 31 facing and opposed respectively to the upper faces 19 on the lower bearing discs 17. The upper discs lower faces 31 each have a pair of downwardly opening slots 32 and 33 extending thereinto and respectively opposed to the upwardly opening slots 20 and 21 in the lower bearing discs 17.

The upper studs 29 each have a helical compression spring 34 extending therearound and bearing respectively on the upper bearing discs and the upper frame member 2 whereby each disc 30 is urged downwardly. In the illustrated example, each upper bearing disc 30 contains an annular recess on the upper face 36 thereof to provide additional longitudinal space for the compression springs 34. A retaining screw 37 is threadedly engageable axially in the upper end 38 in each of the upper studs 29 and has a flange 39 thereon greater in diameter than the respective upper bores 28 to limit the downward displacement of said upper studs.

Slats 40 which are preferably of relatively thin sheet metal, such as steel or aluminum, extend between each of the opposing upper and lower faces 19 and 31. The slats 40 each have a longitudinally extending bend 41 therealong forming connected center sections 42 and 43 extending at an angle to each other and side sections 44 and 45 extending in a common plane outwardly of each side of the center sections 4-2 and 43, FIG. 4. The upper ends 46 and lower ends 47 of the center sections 42 and 43 are respectively adapted to be engaged in the slots 20 and 21 and 32 and 33, whereupon the respective slats 40 are securely retained in proper laterally spaced longitudinally extending relation in the respective frame structures 6 and 9.

The bend 41, in the illustrated structure, greatly increases the torsional strength of the respective slats 40 whereby a rotation of the lower discs 17 is transmitted throughout the entire length of the respective slats 49 so that the upper discs 30 rotate therewith without a substantial loss of motion due to torsional displacement or distortion within the slats.

It is to be understood that the respective slats are securely retained within the frame structure due to the pressure exerted by the compression springs 34 which induces a reaction pressure on the slats from both the upper and lower bearing discs 30 and 17. Due to the intersecting configuration of the slots 20, 21 and 32 and 33, a straight path is not presented to the slat upper and lower ends 46 and 47 to permit the lateral shifting thereof whereby when installed the slats are firmly maintained in desired longitudinal and lateral positions with respect to the frame members. When it is desirable to remove a slat from the frame members for any reason, for example, cleaning, it is only necessary to raise the upper bearing disc 30 against the spring 34 which displaces the upper bearing disc a suflicient amount to permit a disengagement of the slat from the slots 20, 21, 32 and 33 whereby the slat is easily removed without the removal of other parts. It is apparent that reassembly of the slats into the respective frame structures is accomplished by reversing the above procedure. Although in the illustrated example the slats are shown extending vertically, the above described structure is also operative to support the slats in horizontally extending or other positions.

It is to be understood that while one form of this in vention has been illustrated and described, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown except insofar as such limitations are included in the claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A closure member comprising,

(a) spaced opposed first and second frame members,

(b) a plurality of first bores spaced along said first frame member and opening toward said second frame member,

(c) a first retaining means rotatably mounted in each of said first bores and axially supported therein in a direction away from said second frame member,

(d) said first retaining means each having slat receiving means thereon and rotatable therewith,

(e) a plurality of second bores spaced along said second frame member and opening toward said first frame member and respectively aligned with said first bores,

(f) a second retaining means rotatably and axially movably mounted in each of said second bores,

(g) said second retaining means each having slat receiving means thereon,

(h) resilient means bearing respectively on the second retaining means and on said second frame member for urging said second retaining means toward said first frame member,

(1') slats extending between and received by said slat receiving means on said respective first and second retaining means, said slats being retained between said frame members and easily removable from said frame members by axially displacing said second retaining means for disengaging said slats from said slat receiving means,

(j) and means on said second retaining means and engageable with said second frame member to limit axial movement of said second retaining means toward said first frame member.

2. A window blind closure member comprising,

(a) upper and lower spaced horizontal mutually parallel elongated frame members,

(b) a pair of laterally spaced vertical elongated parallel side frame members connected at opposite ends thereof to said horizontal frame members forming a frame structure having a rectangular opening,

(0) a plurality of lower bores spaced along said lower frame member and opening toward said upper frame member,

(a') a lower cylindrical stud rotatably mounted in each of said lower bores,

(e) a lower bearing disc integral with each of said lower studs and greater in diameter than said lower bores,

(1) said lower bearing discs having a lower face contacting said lower frame member and an upper face opposed to said upper frame member,

(g) said lower disc upper faces each having a pair of upwardly opening slots extending thereinto, said slots extending at an angle to each other and intersecting,

(h) a plurality of upper bores spaced along said upper frame member and opening toward said lower frame member and respectively aligned with said lower bores,

(i) an upper cylindrical stud rotatably and axially slidably mounted in each of said upper bores,

(j) an upper bearing disc integral with each of said upper studs and greater in diameter than said upper bores,

(k) said upper bearing discs having a lower face respectively opposed to said lower bearing disc upper faces,

(I) said upper disc lower faces each having a pair of downwardly opening slots extending thereinto and respectively opposed to said upwardly opening slots,

(m) said upper stud having a helical compression spring therearound bearing at opposite ends thereof respectively on said upper disc and said upper frame member for urging said upper disc lower face downwardly,

(n) slats extending between each pair of said oppos ing faces,

(0) said slats having a longitudinally extending bend therein forming connected center sections extending at an angle to each other,

(p) the ends of said center sections being engaged in said slots in said opposed faces whereby said slats are securely retained in said frame structure and easily removable from said frame structure by rais ing said upper studs for disengaging said slats from said slots,

(q) and means engaged in the respective upper ends of said upper studs for limiting the downward dis-- placement of said upper studs.

3. A window blind structure comprising,

(a) spaced opposed substantially parallel first and second frame members,

(b) a plurality of elongate slats having thin cross section with a transverse curvature throughout the length thereof providing longitudinal rigidity thereto,

(0) slat end members for each of said slats with each of said end members having a shank With an enlarged head at one end thereof, said enlarged heads having recessed portions for removably receiving the transverse curvature of end portions of the respective slats,

(d) means rotatably mounting the shanks of slat end members of the respective slats in axial alignment in said opposed first and second frame members with the heads of the end members mounted in the first frame member engaging said first frame member, the end members having shanks rotatably mounted in the second frame member being axially slidable relative thereto,

(e) said end members of adjacent slats having less spacing along said frame members than the Width 6 of the slats to provide said slats Wtih overlapping edge portions in closed position,

(1) means urging said end members mounted in the second frame member toward the respective slat for normally maintaining the slat ends in the recesses of the respective end members,

(g) and means on the shanks of the end members mounted in the second frame member and remote from the respective heads for engaging said second frame member to limit axial sliding movement thereof toward the first frame member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 734,607 Plucker July 28, 1903 2,600,934 Spieth June 17, 1952 2,607,452 Hall Aug. 19, 1952 2,640,233 Silvers June 2, 1953 3,012,294 Waldor Dec. 12, 1961 

1. A CLOSURE MEMBER COMPRISING, (A) SPACED OPPOSED FIRST AND SECOND FRAME MEMBERS, (B) A PLURALITY OF FIRST BORES SPACED ALONG SAID FIRST FRAME MEMBER AND OPENING TOWARD SAID SECOND FRAME MEMBER, (C) A FIRST RETAINING MEANS ROTABLY MOUNTED IN EACH OF SAID FIRST BORES AND AXIALLY SUPPORTED THEREIN IN A DIRECTION AWAY FROM SAID SECOND FRAME MEMBER, (D) SAID FIRST RETAINING MEANS EACH HAVING SLAT RECEIVING MEANS THEREON AND ROTABLE THEREWITH. (E) A PLURALITY OF SECOND BORES SPACED ALONG SAID SECOND FRAME MEMBER AND OPENING TOWARD SAID FIRST FRAME MEMBER AND RESPECTIVELY ALIGNED WITH SAID FIRST BORES. (F) A SECOND RETAINING MEANS ROTABLY AND AXIALLY MOVABLY MOUNTED IN EACH OF SAID SECOND BORES, (G) SAID SECOND RETAINING MEANS EACH HAVING SLAT RERECEIVING MEANS THEREON, (H) RESILIENT MEANS BEARING RESPECTIVELY ON THE SECOND RETAINING MEANS ON SAID SECOND FRAME MEMBER FOR URGING SAID SECOND RETAINING MEANS TOWARD SAID FIRST FRAME MEMBER, (I) SLATS EXTENDING BETWEEN AND RECEIVED BY SAID SLAT RECEIVING MEANS ON SAID RESPECTIVE FIRST AND SECOND RETAINING MEANS, SAID SLATS BEING RETAINED BETWEEN SAID FRAME MEMBERS AND EASILY REMOVABLE FROM SAID FRAME MEMBERS BY AXIALLY DISPLACING SAID SECOND RETAINING MEANS FOR DISENGAGING SAID SLATS FROM SAID SLAT RECEIVING MEANS, (J) AND MEANS ON SAID SECOND RETAINING MEANS AND ENGEABLE WITH SAID SECOND FRAME MEMBER TO LIMIT AXIAL MOVEMENT OF SAID SECOND RETAINING MEANS TOTOWARD SAID FIRST FRAME MEMBER. 